Adjustable pedal assembly for exercise devices

ABSTRACT

The pedal assembly includes a pedal having a rectangular passage defined longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of first positioning holes are defined through one side of the peal. A rod movably extends through the passage and includes a plurality of second positioning holes defined in one side thereof so that the pedal is positioned relative to the rod by inserting two pins through aligned first positioning holes and second positioning holes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application of applicant's former application with application Ser. No. 10/402762, filed Mar. 28, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional exercise device, such as an elliptical exerciser or stair climbing exerciser, includes two pedals which are respectively connected to two respective operation rods. A distal end of each of the operation rods is connected to one of two arms which can be pivoted reciprocally when the user's feet step on the two pedals. The trace of the two pedals is an oval path such that the muscles of the feet can be exercised during the operation. The pedals are made large enough so as to meet needs of different users and the larger the pedal is, the higher manufacturing cost is required. The mold for making the pedals has to be bulky and the travel of the plastic injection machine is also long, both of the two factors affect the cost of the manufacture. The number of the pedals that one process of plastic injection can produce is limited because of the size of the pedals and the cooling period is increased between two adjacent injections.

The present invention intends to provide an adjustable pedal assembly wherein the pedal can be adjusted along the rod according different needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The adjustable pedal assembly for exercise devices comprises a pedal assembly which comprises a pedal having a longitudinal passage defined therethrough and a rod extends through the passage. A plurality of first positioning holes are defined through one side of the peal and a plurality of second positioning holes are defined in one side of the rod. Two pins each have a head and a shank. The pins extend through the aligned first positioning holes and second positioning holes to position the pedal relative to the rod.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the pedal assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view to show the pedal assembly is used for an elliptical exerciser;

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view, taken from line A-A in FIG. 2, of the pedal assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows that the pins are pulled out from the second positioning holes in the rod so that the pedal is movable along the rod;

FIG. 5 shows that the pedal is shifted along the operation rod, and

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view, taken from line B-B in FIG. 5, of the pedal assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the pedal assembly for an elliptical exerciser of the present invention comprises a pedal 10 having a rectangular passage 11 defined longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of first positioning holes 12 are defined through one side of the peal 10. The pedal 10 is a rectangular pedal and includes a flat top surface on which user's foot stands.

A rectangular and hollow rod 20 slidably extends through the passage 11 and has a plurality of second positioning holes 21 defined in one side thereof. Two pins 30 each have a head 31 and a shank 32, the pins 30 extending through aligned first positioning holes 12 and the second positioning holes 21 so as to position the pedal 10 relative to the rod 20.

The elliptical exerciser includes two sets of the pedal 10 and the rod 20, wherein the two rods 20 are respectively connected to two arms 40 which are pivotably connected to a post 50. The two pedals 10 are movably rested on two rollers 51 on a wheel 52. By pivoting the two arms 40, the two pedals 10 are alternatively moved up and down along an elliptical trace. A distance “H1” is defined between the two respective pins 30 on the two pedals 10. Different users need different distances “H1” when operating the elliptical exerciser.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user may easily pull the two pins 30 out from the second positioning holes 21 and the pedal 10 can therefore be moved along the rod 20 till the pins 30 are inserted into the aligned first positioning holes 12 and second positioning holes 21 as shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 5, by the above mentioned way, the pedals 10 can be set at a different position relative to the rods 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the distance “H2” between the two respective pins 30 on the two pedals 10 is adjusted to be less than “H1” so as to need a shorter user's need.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A pedal assembly comprising: a pedal having a passage defined longitudinally therethrough and a plurality of first positioning holes defined through one side of the peal; a rod extending through the passage and having a plurality of second positioning holes defined in one side thereof, and two pins each having a head and a shank, the pins extending through aligned first positioning holes and the second positioning holes.
 2. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passage in the pedal is a rectangular passage and the rod includes a rectangular cross section so that the rod slidably engaged with the passage.
 3. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is a hollow rod. 